Crazy Idea: Forward-Looking Mirror
 

Every time I'm in the drops, and have to crane my neck up to see where I'm going, I think about mounting a mirror on the handlebars, angled at 45 degrees, so that I can look forward through the mirror. It might have to be a convex mirror.

I know I could get used to things being reversed. I just need to know whether a grating or obstacle is coming up.

Anyone tried this?

Ahh yes. My recumbents make more and more sense to me every day. :)

[QUOTE=I know I could get used to things being reversed. I just need to know whether a grating or obstacle is coming up.[/QUOTE]

Images in the mirror won't be reversed, they'll be upside-down. It takes two mirrors, a la periscope, to view the images rightside-up. It would take very precise placement of the mirrors to make this work.

A mini forward-looking tv camera wireless to glasses with lcd screens in them?

Right, but I still think I could get used to it. There was a famous experiment in which a scientist created glasses that caused him to see everything upside down. In no time, he adapted to this, and demonstrated this by riding his bike.

Actually, they're used on prone bikes.

Web site: http://www.h-zontal.com/pagesgb/presentation.html

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-akkbNyiXE

Sure looks better for hills than a recumbent! No better for traffic and probably worse on your knees. I'll pass.

T-Al, have you got upper lumbar issues or heavy brows?

Or one of these with the camera mounted to the bars or stem: http://www.cerevellum.com/

Long time ago, one of the riders in the Race Across America (RAAM), mounted a pretty good size flat mirror just the way you are thinking. He said it worked well for him.

Back in the 1990's there was a double mirror unit, made by WINDCHEETA Inc. Xenia Ohio. The idea was that you look straight down and have a non-reversed forward view. I still have one down in the basement.

And I thought I was out there when I took the visor off my helmet.

I say give it a try.
Let us know how it worked when you get out of the hospital.

That exact thought has occurred to me many times. If you try it, please be sure to post how it went. I've always thought that it wouldn't have to be great, just good enough for spotting motion (cars, pedestrians, bears, bat-wielding maniacs) so that you look up...

I too have pondered on this same idea but have never tried to rig up a mirror in such a fashion.

A buddy of mine tried this and was never able to get used to seeing things upside down.. CRASH.. he eventually gave it up.

Speedskater - take some pics of that thing and let's see if it can be copied.

I used to have a similar problem- Look down a bit and cars suddenly appear----Look up and neck ache.


Cured it by taking the visor off the helmet.